Smart Growth

Smart growth is a term for a set of tools and techniques that communities can us to control the wasteful, out-of-control development now known as sprawl. Smart growth is a broad movement adopted by environmentalists and public officials across the country who do not want to prevent development, but see that growth is planned and protects the things we value such as historic buildings and landscapes, open space, environmental quality and local character. Smart growth encourages recycling existing buildings and land, conserving historic downtowns and residential neighborhoods, preserving farmland, maintaining local community character, promoting a sense of community and protecting the environment for future generations. Sprawl on the other hand drains the life out of older downtowns and residential communities, leaving historic communities vulnerable to under use , neglect and demolition. Sprawl destroys the unique identity and character of towns and the countryside, replacing them with cookie-cutter residential developments and standardized big box stores. Sprawl also eliminates all transportation choices except driving, adding pressures to create or widen roads that often destroy historic resources or detrimentally alter their surroundings. Sprawl also destroys the characteristics that are essential to create and maintain a sense of place and community. It devours open space and wastes public and private investments already made in existing communities. Historic Preservationists are passionate about Smart Growth because they realize that the larger land-use issues regarding transportation, zoning and subdivisions can directly impact efforts to preserve historic buildings, an archaeological site or an historic downtown. The Smart Growth Network lists the following as the premises of smart growth:

1. Mixed land uses
2. Take advantage of compact building design
3. Create housing opportunities and choices for a range of household types, family sizes and incomes.
4. Create walkable neighborhoods
5. Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place.
6. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, historic buildings, and critical environmental areas.
7. Reinvest in and strengthen existing communities and achieve more balanced regional development
8. Provide a variety of transportation choices.
9. Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective.
10. Encourage citizen and stakeholder participation in development decisions.

CT Main Street - Historic Preservation Is Smart Growth Local_Governments_and_Schools_IQ_Report - Local_Governments_and_Schools_IQ_Report NETS - Consequences of Suburban Sprawl

Face of Connecticut 1000 Friends of Connecticut American Farmland Trust American Planning Association Architecture Research Institute Center for Livable Communities Cyburbia from The University of Buffalo's Department of Urban and Regional Planning International Downtown Association Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Planning Commissioners Journal / PlannersWeb Sierra Club Smart Communities Network Smart Growth Network Sprawl Busters Sprawl Watch Sustainable Development Institute Sustainable Measures The Brookings Institution (Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy) Urban Land Institute Walkable Communities